Reviews > Knives > Multi-tools > Leatherman Micra > Owner Review by Dennis Shubitowski

Owner Review - Leatherman Micra

Report Outline     Biography     Product Information     Product Description (Gory Details)     Field Use     Summary Biography <back to top> Name: Dennis Shubitowski Age: 34 Height: 5'11" (180.3 cm) Weight: 170 lb (77 kg) E-mail: shubitow at msu dot edu Location: Mid-Michigan Date: August 13, 2004

I began backpacking in the early 1990s. I hike in every season including winter, and I also enjoy other outdoor activities like hunting, canoeing and riding horses. My beginning pack weights were monstrously heavy, but now my average three-season load for a multi-day trip, including food and water, is usually less than 25 lb (11.3 kg). Gear that I carry tends to be the lightest I can go without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Product Information <back to top>

Product Description <back to top>

This instrument is a very small and light multitool useful for every day use both backpacking and around the house. I received my first Micra as a gift and I have owned one ever since. I have had a tendency to lose them which is why I have owned three of them. That is to no fault of the Micra as it has a key lanyard hole for attaching to various components. I choose not to use it to make it handier to use thus the repeated purchases.

Leatherman has a fantastic website with well-done Flash animation for all their multitools. I heartily recommend a visit to their website to get a feel for the Micra and their other tools as well. There are several components to the Micra and I will describe them below. These descriptions apply to the generic, brushed silver version which I have used the most.

Components

Ruler (imperial/metric)

The ruler is visible when the tool is folded and closed. It is stamped right into the outside arms of the tool in both imperial and metric. The stamp is on spine (or back) of the arms and continues slightly up onto the side of each arm so the markings can be seen from the side if it is flat on an object. When the Micra is "half" opened, the arms can be pushed together to make a somewhat level but awkward to use 5 inch (127 mm) ruler. The key lanyard can be moved out of the way if using the imperial side and you need to use the start of the ruler. Not every measurement is marked along the entire ruler. For the imperial side, it is divided in 1/8 inch markings with short dashes and the full inch marked with a longer dash at 1 inch and 4 inches. The imperial ruler is first marked starting at 1/2 inch length with 1/8 inch markings up to the 2 inch length. 1/8 inch markings run for 1 7/8 inches total with the cut steel forming the unmarked 2 inch length. There are no measurements along the joint where the scissors are attached. The ruler continues on the right arm with the cut steel forming the unmarked 3 inch length, and the 1/8 inch markings continue to 4 1/2 inches with the end of tool forming the complete 5 inch length.

The metric side of the ruler is printed opposite and reverse of the imperial ruler (or vice-versa depending on your perspective). The key lanyard is at the end of the metric ruler as opposed to it being at the start of the imperial ruler. Centimeters are marked with a long dash and millimeters are marked with a short dash except the first 2 or 3 millimeter markings after a centimeter which are shorter to accommodate the number marking. The first marking is at 1 centimeter with no markings again until the 15 millimeter spot. Millimeter markings continue along to 48 millimeters in length and the cut steel does not form a measurement like on the imperial side. Centimeters noted on the left arm include 1, 2, 3, and 4, and there are again no measurements along the joint. The next marking on the continuing arm is at 78 millimeters and they continue to 112 millimeters with centimeters marked at 8, 9, 10 and 11. A single, unmarked line denotes the 12 centimeter length. The entire length of the ruler is 12.7 centimeters from end to end.

Scissors

The scissors are the main tool on the Micra. The scissors are accessed by completely opening the arms of the tool to form a compact pair of scissors. The steel on the arms are bent toward each other to narrow down to the width of the scissors, and the scissors are joined to the inside end of each arm by a knurled rivet. There is a clever spring mechanism at the bottom of where the scissors join that return the scissors to the open position after squeezing them. The scissors are sharpened like regular scissors are but the two blades cannot be separated to resharpen them on a stone. A tool like a Dremel will work although I have not had a need to do so yet. The usable length that the scissors cut is 1 inch (2.5 centimeters).

Non-Lanyard Arm

The Clip-point knife, the medium screwdriver, and the nail file/cleaner are all located on the arm without the lanyard. The knife and the nail file/cleaner are both the "outside" tools inside the arm and are opened via a nail groove in each tool that is accessed by a half-moon segment taken out on each side of this arm. The medium screwdriver is right next to the nail file/cleaner in the middle and there is a gap between the medium screwdriver and clip-point knife to accept the folded scissors when the tool is closed. The tools open away from the scissors and are drilled through and held with a knurled rivet. All tools (except the lanyard and tweezers) seem to be formed on 0.04 inch (1 millimeter) thick steel sections.

Clip-point knife

The clip-point knife is a clip-point blade (as the name implies) and is 1.5 inches (38 millimeters) long and 1/4 inch (6.4 millimeters) wide. The blade has no serrations and is sharpened on one side (toward the inside of the arm).  It is very sharp.

Medium screwdriver

This is a stubby little screwdriver that is about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) long at the part where it is held and 3/16 inch (5 millimeters) wide. The screwdriver is opened via a nail groove that is accessed at the gap of where the scissors rest when closed. It looks like the screwdriver is simply formed by grinding and polishing the edge of the steel piece at an angle. The screwdriver end is also 3/16 inch (5 millimeters) long - narrow at the end and widening back up the steel piece.

Nail file/cleaner

The nail file is located on the opposite side of the nail groove or toward the inside of the arm. The file length is a little over 1 inch (25 millimeters) long and a little less the 1/4 inch (38 millimeters) wide; the file appears to be formed by grinding away a square section of the steel piece. Importantly, the file is not ground all the way to the edge so I cannot file anything by running the edge of the file along it. The end of the nail cleaner/file is shaped to form the hook to clean out fingernails or other such similar use. The total length of this piece is about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) long and 1/4 inch (6.4 millimeters) wide.

Lanyard-side Arm

The tweezers, flat Phillips screwdriver, extra small screwdriver/bottle opener, and key lanyard are all located together in this arm. A long notch is taken on one side of this arm (the same side as the nail file/cleaner on the other arm) where the tweezers are located. The flat Phillips screwdriver is located right next to the tweezers, and there is a gap between the flat Phillips screwdriver and the bottle opener/extra small screwdriver to accept the scissors when folded. The bottle opener/extra small screwdriver is opened via a half moon notch on the side of the arm and a nail groove. All tools on this side are drilled, riveted, and open as on the other arm.

Tweezers

The tweezers are cleverly designed with a bend at their base so they are flush against the outside of the tool. The tweezers seem to be made of a slightly different material than all the other tools - it is shinier and more flexible. The tweezers are 1 1/4 inches (32 millimeters) long and about 1/16 inch (2 millimeters) wide. The ends are ground down in the same way as the medium screwdriver to form a sharp, flat point for grabbing things that tweezers are made to grab. The end of the tweezers may also be used to tighten down fine screws although it is somewhat awkward.

Flat Phillips screwdriver

This tool fits a #2 Phillips head screw. It is a stubby little "flat" screwdriver as the name implies. The piece is stamped "FOR PHILLIPS" just to remind you its purpose which is probably a good thing as Phillips screwdrivers are not normally flat so its use is not immediately obvious. The screwdriver is about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) long and 3/16 inch (5 millimeters) wide.

Extra small screwdriver/Bottle opener

The bottle opener and extra small screwdriver are combined onto this one section. The extra small screwdriver is indeed extra small - the end is a little over 1/16 inch (2 millimeters) wide and about as thick as the tweezers are at its end. The total length of this piece is about 1.5 inches (38 millimeters) long and it is about 5/16 inch (8 millimeters) wide where not carved down.

Lanyard attachment

The lanyard attachment is a simple steel piece with a hole that a small key ring is fed through so the tool may be attached to a lanyard, key ring, or other such item. The lanyard does rotate around so it may be moved out of the way to use the ruler.

Field Use <back to top>

I have carried a Leatherman Micra in my pocket nearly every day for over 5 years now. It sits either loose in the left pants pocket of my work clothes or in a zippered pocket in my convertible hiking pants. I have always carried it loose so that it is easy to access and handle while using. Because of that, I am now on my third Micra. This is a small tool that is easy to misplace or slip out of my pocket and into the abyss of my living room sofa, never to be seen again. I like the Micra because it is solidly built, quality tool, and it is very small and light which makes it conducive to backpacking. Nearly all of the tools have been useful at some point or another during ownership, and even the majority of them I use often while hiking.

The main feature of the Micra is the scissors. I use the scissors the most frequently over any other part of this tool. The blades have never needed sharpening over any of the time I have owned my various Micras which I have found somewhat astonishing considering the use they get. I have been fully prepared to take my Dremel grinding tool to the scissors but I have not found it necessary yet. I use the scissors to cut everything scissors are supposed to cut and for other uses how it probably is not supposed to be used. This list includes things like trimming finger and toenails, hang nails, removing calluses, and digging out slivers with the points of the blade. Normal uses include cutting moleskin/foam, duct tape, paper, cardboard, and twine among other things. The scissors squeeze together with a nice amount of weight or resistance, and they spring back readily via the spring catch at their base. I would not change a thing about the scissors.

For the instruments that get the least amount of use, it is probably a tie between the ruler and the lanyard attachment. There is nothing wrong with the lanyard attachment - I just do not use it, but I am sure it works just fine. The ruler, however, is too small and awkward to handle to be really useful. I cannot recall a time ever in owning a Micra that I have needed to measure something and thought first of the ruler on this tool. To use the entire length of the ruler, the two arms must be pushed together to meet in the middle, but the ruler then does not stay in a flat position but will "v" slightly instead. Not all measurements are marked either which can be frustrating while using it. I could do without this feature, but since is does not add any weight to the tool (it is a freebie so to speak), including it as a feature is obvious even if I never use it.

Because I wear glasses, the extra small screwdriver is indispensable. It has saved mine and others hides more times on the trail than I can remember by tightening up loose eyeglass screws. It also fits the screws of a Photon light, but I am not in the habit of carry extra batteries for my Photons while on the trail (but I have changed them using this tool at home). I have frequently used both of the other screwdrivers (Phillips and flat head) around the house more than hiking. It is not the most ideal screwdriver to have on hand, but it certainly is handy. I just installed a surge protector on an electrical outlet with the Micra this week, for instance. It has removed screws to change the air filter on my truck, tightened down return air registers, opened up computer cases, and any other task I can think of to use a screwdriver. Hiking-wise, I can and have completely disassembled and reassembled my MSR Whisperlite stove with the screwdrivers - it is well-suited for the task of backpacking stove maintenance. The screwdrivers are easiest to use when they are unfolded and the Micra is closed. Closing the tool adds reinforcement and torque to them making it easier to turn screws. I do not recommend using the flat head screwdriver for prying things with to much torque. I buried a carbon fiber arrow into a wood frame while sighting in my archery bow and I used the Micra to pry the arrow out and did bend it (I was more concerned cost-wise about the arrow than the tool!). I then put it up against the edge of wood frame and gently bent it back and it was no worse for the wear.

Rounding out the tools are the bottle opener, nail tool, the knife, and the tweezers. The bottle opener is quite effective and has opened more that its fair share of post-hike beers with no problems. The nail tool works just fine for digging out crud under my fingernails or filing down a finger or toenail so it quits catching on things. I also use the file as a mini rasp to file down materials from metal burrs to rough plastic edges. The file does not go all the way to the edge of the metal (it is instead like a square set into the tool piece), and it cannot file anything by running the edge of the nail tool over it. I have used the knife less frequently than I would have thought mainly because the scissors are so handy. It is just a small pen knife and has cut baling twine and cardboard and similar things with no issues. Since I tested the Xikar pocket knife, I now actually carry both as they are each so small and light. The knife on the Xikar is much easier to use than to dig out the knife on the Micra, but the Micra's knife blade has held an edge surprisingly well and always worked well when I have needed it. Finally, the tweezers I use often but they are not ideal. The tweezers are awkward to handle, hold and use. They do not pinch very effectively, and they are difficult to get leverage to grab things. Items often slip off the end pretty easily from a lack of holding torque. The main use for the tweezers is to remove slivers - I usually dig the sliver out with the tip of the scissors or the knife to loosen them and then use the tweezers to grab it. There is not much that can be improved due to the small length of the tool, so they work moderately well in a pinch when needed.

The Leatherman Micra is available in brushed silver and in several other colors. I owned a Red Micra for quite a stretch before losing it but I must say I prefer (and recommend) the brushed steel version. In the color versions, the metal sides of the arms are replaced with a translucent plastic that always felt cheap and frivolous to me. The tool did not feel as solid or good in my hand with the plastic sides as does the all-metal version.

Summary <back to top>

Likes

• Small and lightweight
• Solidly built with excellent craftsmanship
• Relatively inexpensive
• The majority of the tools work well and are genuinely useful

Dislikes

• The ruler
• The tweezers could be better
• I keep losing it! (well, not really a dislike...)

I have not found a better tool to replace the Micra for the size and weight. I will continue to carry one as long as I can continue to buy them.

Reviews > Knives > Multi-tools > Leatherman Micra > Owner Review by Dennis Shubitowski